IELTS Speaking Part 3 Masterclass

Yes, it is. [Point 1] Smartphones have become quite helpful for school-age children. [Extension] The various apps allow kids to learn math, science, language, and other subjects. Aside from being easier to understand, the colourful graphics and sounds make learning more fun. So parents willingly purchase such phones for educational purposes. [Point 2] And of course, there are many game applications that kids love to play on their phones. [Extension] They can play such games on their own or together with friends. In fact, some kids prefer their phones to toys and other games.

[Point 1] Cell phones have many benefits, such as giving us access to information and the ability to contact our friends and colleagues wherever we are. [Extension] We can now access any information, take pictures, contact friends and do many more things easily anywhere. [Point 2] On the downside, they can become addictive, especially with young people. [Extension] The addiction to chatting with friends and playing games can become a serious distraction for a lot of people, and prevent them from enjoying life.

[Point] I think that people already write a lot less because of new technology, but I believe that artistic handwriting like calligraphy will still be with us. [Extension 1] Because most of our communication is done through computers and mobile devices, most people nowadays do not do much handwriting in their daily lives, and it is very rarely used for work. [Extension 2] In spite of this, beautiful handwriting is an ancient art form in its own right and remains popular to this day, so I see no reason why it would be in danger of disappearing in the future.

[Point] Letter writing today is a lot rarer and hence more special, but in the past, letters were needed for all manner of purposes. [Extension 1] Today a letter would usually be a very special personal thing because of the extra time and effort required. You would not write a letter for a simple matter because you could send an email or message instantly. [Extension 2] In the past, because there was no digital communication, letters were much more common and less meaningful. People would write letters to apply for jobs, make simple requests, or just say hello to friends.

[Point] I think that some people communicate more and some people communicate less than before. [Extension 1] Many people would say that we communicate a lot more than before, because with so many ways to connect through phones and computers, it seems like we are always communicating. [Extension 2] On the other hand, being attached to these devices has also made some people communicate face to face a lot less, meaning that some forms of communication such as asking for directions, or random conversations with strangers have all but disappeared.

[Point] I personally do not like phone calls, because there are so many kinds of non-verbal communication that we do not pick up during a phone call. [Extension 1] Facial expressions that show our mood or reaction cannot be seen in phone calls, meaning that it is often difficult to understand the nuance of conversations. [Extension 2] Additionally, because the sound quality of phone calls is not as good as speaking with someone face to face, again we can lose the subtle aspects of communication that we get through tone and so on.

[Point 1] I believe that modern technology has made our communication much faster and more efficient. [Extension] Many people communicate in a much less formal manner with the use of emojis and abbreviations as well as using a lot of shorthand to save time and make messages easier to read. [Point 2] A secondary effect has meant that our correspondence becomes more convenient. [Extension] For example, if I were to send a letter abroad, I would spend more effort than an email, since it would take a long time and a reply even longer.

[Point] I would say that the most important communication skills today are efficiency and honesty. [Extension 1] Because the world now is so fast-moving that people like to communicate quickly and waste as little time as possible in getting their message across, overly long communication becomes confusing and boring. [Extension 2] From another perspective, it's important to speak from your heart. If people do not believe what you are saying because they think you are lying, it will count for nothing.